Custom wagons are hot, especially when they have a generally stock appearance and sit low on painted steel rims. They’re just the thing to take the family to a car show, or haul a few buddies and a couple of surfboards out to the beach. And better yet, they’re simple to fix and rarely break.

This dropped ’61 Chevy features a recent driver-quality repaint, a bunch of new trim pieces, and a complete new interior from CARS Inc. What rust was there was cut out and replaced with fresh steel, and everything else was coated with POR-15 to keep the tin worm at bay.

It has a lowered stance thanks to air bags from Air Ride Technologies, which means you can raise it up for freeway runs and drop it into the weeds for slow-speed cruising. In addition, to get that just-right look, the front end was fitted with 2-inch drop spindles, and a Master Power Brakes front disc setup helps bring this car’s stopping power into the 21st century.

Under the hood is a rebuilt 170-hp 283 V8 which was given a small cam, Edelbrock intake, and Edelbrock AFB carb. It’s fed by a new fuel tank (no worries about plugged original lines), and it breathes through new dual Flowmaster exhaust. Overall, it’s very clean throughout, and the updates should make it a great stock-appearing modern driver.